Ghost

GHOST (1990)
35th Anniversary Screening
Director Jerry Zucker in Person!
Wednesday, May 21, at 7 PM
Laemmle Royal Theatre

Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a special screening of one of the best loved movies of the 20th century, Jerry Zucker’s smash hit supernatural fantasy, 'Ghost.' When the movie opened in the summer of 1990, it quickly captivated audiences and eventually became the highest grossing movie of the year, earning $505 million on a budget of just $23 million. When the movie hit home video in 1991, it also became the highest grossing film in the rental market for that year. The movie was nominated for five Oscars in 1990, including Best Picture, and it won awards for Bruce Joel Rubin’s original screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg’s riotous supporting performance.

Rubin’s screenplay marked a fresh contribution to the fantasy genre, following in the tradition of such classics as 'Here Comes Mr. Jordan,' Warren Beatty’s remake 'Heaven Can Wait,' 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,' 'Blithe Spirit,' and the comic blockbuster, 'Ghostbusters.' But it was a very original piece of storytelling that mixed romance, humor, and suspense, with plenty of surprise twists, as a murder victim tries to save his girlfriend’s life from beyond the grave. Patrick Swayze plays a banker in love with an artist played by Demi Moore. Tony Goldwyn plays a colleague of Swayze’s, and Goldberg plays a fake psychic who somehow manages to have a connection with spirits from the afterlife.

The technical crew behind the movie was also outstanding. Walter Murch (an Oscar winner for 'Apocalypse Now' and 'The English Patient') was the editor and earned a nomination for his work. Maurice Jarre (a multiple Oscar winner—for David Lean’s 'Lawrence of Arabia,' 'Doctor Zhivago,' and 'A Passage to India') also earned a nomination for his score, which famously included the hit song from 1955, “Unchained Melody” (a kind of anthem for the movie). Visual effects supervisor Richard Edlund was also an Oscar winner for 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'

The romantic pottery casting scene between Swayze and Moore was later cited as one of the most iconic scenes of '90s movies, though it attracted its share of parodies as well—a sign of the film’s enduring place in pop culture.

Reviews of this smash hit movie were actually mixed, but many of the most perceptive critics praised it. Newsweek’s David Ansen called 'Ghost' “a zippy pastiche that somehow manages to seem fresh.” Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman agreed that the movie was “a dazzlingly enjoyable pop thriller.” Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that “Rubin’s script is a lethally effective fantasy.” The cast also earned high praise. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune said, “Moore has never been more fetching.” The New York Times’ Janet Maslin added, “This is one of those rare occasions on which the uncategorizable Ms. Goldberg has found a film that really suits her, and she makes the most of it.”

Time Out summarized the positive reviews by praising the filmmakers: “The real credit…rests on an excellent script by Bruce Joel Rubin, and on the surprisingly sure direction of Jerry Zucker.”

Before making this movie, Zucker had worked with his brother David Zucker and Jim Abrahams on comedy hits 'Airplane!,' 'Top Secret!,' 'Ruthless People,' and 'The Naked Gun.' 'Ghost' marked his first solo effort as director and also his first dramatic film. He went on to direct 'First Knight,' 'Rat Race,' and also helped to produce such films as 'My Best Friend’s Wedding,' 'Fair Game, and 'Friends with Benefits.'